High schools across the country are turning students as young as freshmen into IRS-certified tax preparers and having them do free tax returns for low-income community members in partnership with the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).

In a time where education reform is the subject of national conversation, and President Obama says he expects high schools to be able to graduate kids into the workforce, these programs are teaching kids real-life skills using real-life experience. Many eventually become accounting majors and professional tax-preparers.